A voyage into the archives of Indian Theatre

On May 11, 2022, the third-year students of the English department of Loreto College went on a study trip to the Natya Shodh Sansthan Theatre Museum, Kolkata under the supervision of Dr. Basu and Ms. Chattopadhyay. The museum is India’s largest repository of archival material and documentation covering the entire history of Indian Theatre and includes dedicated galleries on Sanskrit, Folk, and Modern Theatre. The trip was organised to enhance the students’ understanding of Indian Theatre for their course on ‘Text and Performance.’
The students visited each of the three galleries under the expert guidance of Dr. Suvro Mazumder and were provided with enriching information. The Sanskrit Theatre Gallery displayed replicas of accessories used in ancient theatre performances, musical instruments, and miniature models of the stage as envisaged by Bharata in his Natya Shastra.
In the Folk Theatre Gallery, the students had the opportunity to examine photographs, costumes, masks, and ornaments associated with various Indian folk forms such as Putul Nach, Jatra, Alkaap, Chhau, Tamasha, and Nautanki.
The Modern Theatre Gallery introduced the students to the theatrical practices prevalent in different parts of the country through photographs, set-models, disc-records, and write-ups. It also featured a special display box containing rare books, manuscripts, and production scripts sourced from the archives.
The students were encouraged to explore the vast collections of the in-house library comprising seminal books in multiple languages, audio and video recordings, magazines, and newspaper cut-outs.
The experience of visiting the museum was intellectually stimulating for the participants. It not only succeeded in expanding their knowledge of Indian theatrical traditions but also impressed upon them the importance of archival documentation and research.